Surgical forceps

ABSTRACT

The surgical forceps are composed of two movably interconnected halves (1,2). Each of said halves terminates in an oblong jaw (4,5) having an effective portion (8) with a compressing surface (17,18) which is provided with alternately arranged prongs (21) and recesses (22) corresponding to the respective recesses (22) and prongs (21) on the opposite compressing surface of the other jaw. The prongs (21) and recesses (22) are arranged on at least one longitudinal edge of the compressing surface (17,18) the recesses (22) being open towards the outer surface (19 or 20) of the effective portion (8) of the jaws (4,5).

FIELD OF THE ART

The present invention relates to medical engineering, namely, tosurgical forceps for grasphing and holding tissues or organs duringvarious manipulations in the operative wound in the course of mostdiverse surgical procedures, in particular, for reliable closuse of acavity and holding the resected organ portion that has been severedafter mechanical suture application with the aid of a suturingappliance, e.g., in the case of resecting of an intestine, the stomachor other organs of the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

PRIOR ART

Prior art surgical forceps for grasping and holding tissues or organsare known to comprise two halves movably interconnected and havingoblong jaws with compressing (inner) and outer surfaces of the working(effective) portions. The forceps have serration situated on thecompressing surface of the effective law portion (cf., e.g., a Catalogueof the firm Aesculap "Instrumente fur Diagnostik, kleine und grosseChirurgie, Urologie, Gynakologie und Geburtshilfe", Band 1, 9 Auflage P.226No. B-21178), or longitudinal grooves or flutes provided on each jawand so arranged that the grooves on one of the jaws are located oppositeto the projections or lugs on the other jaw (cf. ibid., p. 267No.B-21181 DF).

Serration and grooves-and-lugs are aimed at increasing the forces ofadhesion of the surfaces of tissues or organs with the compressingsurface of the effective jaw portion. However, such forceps fail toprovide a reliable holding of tissues and organs in the forceps withouttheir overcompression, which is causative of a traumatic lesion. Theknown forceps fail to prevent the compressed walls of organs fromslipping off the forceps, especially when tensioning the tissues squarewith the forceps jaws. This is the case when, e.g., severing theresected portion of organs immediately at the forceps jaws afterapplication of a mechanical suture with the aid of a surgical suturingappliance in the course of resection of organs. The possibility ofescaping of the tissues clamped by the forceps off the latter duringvarious manipulations involved in surgery is fraught with the danger ofinfecting the operative wound, since the cavity of the organ operatedupon gets open so that the contaminated inner surface of the organ isbrought in contact with the surrounding tissues, the infected contentsflow out of the cavity, and hemostasis is disturbed. In order toincrease the force of adhesion of the compressing surface of the forcepsjaws with the tissues being handled, one has to increase the width ofthe jaws of the known forceps, which is not always possible due tospecific conditions of a surgery, e.g., when the amount of tissues isinsufficient for the forceps jaws to set to the working position.Besides, in order to provide a reliable fixation of the walls of theorgan being operated upon, one whould increase the rigidity of thecantilivered jaws of the forceps, since it is not infrequently that thecompression force applied to the walls of organs is to be very high soas to prevent their escaping from the jaws, which is the case whencompressing and fixing the walls of the resected stomach portion in thecourse of gastrectomy. Thus, the forceps get bulky and have too wide andhigh jaws, which deteriorates their maneuvrability in the operatuvewound. When such forceps are used for compressing the organs and tissuesthat are to remain in the organism after surgery, these tissues might beovercompressed and necrosis might subsequently result.

Another prior-art forceps, such as, e.g., Price-Thomas (cf. theCatalogue of the firm Aesculap mentioned hereinabove, Item No. B-21182,p. 267) is made up of two halves movably interconnected and havingoblong jaws with compressing and outer surfaces. A number of throughperforations are made in the compressing surface of the effectiveportion of one of the jaws of the forceps along the centre line of saidsurface. The other jaw are provided with pointed cone-shaped lugs orprongs arranged likewise along the centre line of the jaw and adapted toengage the aforementioned perforations when the jaws are broughttogether.

However, practical application of the Price-Thomas forceps isinconvenient due to too great a width of the jaw effective portion.Through perforations in the jaws reduce substantially their rigidity,are in effect stress concentrators and, therefore, render the jawsunreliable, especially in the case of long-length jaws, which are liableto break during surgery when compressing massive solid walls of organs.That is why the jaws of the Price-Thomas forceps are to be made wide andshort so that such forceps cannot be used for grasping and fixingtissues that have a relatively large length. Provision of the prongsonly on one jaw provide reliable holding for only one side of thecompressed walls of an organ, e.g., those of the stomach or largeintestine, whereas the other wall situated on the side of the perforatedjaw might escape from the forceps, with the result that the cavity ofthe organ will be opened and asepsis of the surgery by affected. To makegrasping and holding of tissues more reliable it is necessary toincrease the height of prongs so that both walls of a thick-walled organshould be pierced. However, the higher the prongs the lower theirstrength, the prongs are inconvenient in manipulations with the forceps,while the danger of inflicting traumatic lesions on the tissues operatedupon and on the surrounding tissues, as well as on surgeon's hands. Itshould also be pointed out that small-diameter perforations arrangedalong the centre line of the jaws are in fact dirt accumulators and areinconvenient for cleaning.

More reliable from standpoint of reliable grasping and holding of bothwalls of the tissues operated upon is the heretofore-known Mikuliczforceps, Catalogue No. E-295 (cf. the aforementioned Catalogue of thefirm Aesculap, p. 329). Unlike the above discussed forceps, theeffective portion of each jaw has a number of prongs arranged along thejaw centre line and standing over the compressing jaw surface and facingthe opposite jaw, and a number of through perforations so interposedbetween the prongs that the prongs of one jaw are situated against theperforations in the opposite jaw. Thanks to such a construction featurethe Mikulicz forceps provide for reliable fixation of the both walls oftissues or organs compressed between the forceps jaws. However, it isdue to specific construction features of the effective portion of theforceps jaws provided with prongs and through perforations arrangedlengthwise the centre line of said jaws that said forceps feature toowide jaws which are inadequately strong and rigid. As a result, theforceps are wieldy, especially when the jaws have a considerable length,the forceps jaws require rather wide tissues to be set to the workingposition, the forceps are poorly maneuvrable in the operative wound, thejaws are liable to break, and the forceps feature but a short servicelife. Besides, through perforations and prongs arranged along the jawcentre line are inconvenient for cleaning.

The aforesaid disadvantages place limitations upon practical use of theknown forceps in surgical practice, whenever it is necessary to reliablygrasp and hold the walls of organs for a relatively long length, e.g.,when compressing the resected portion of the organ operated upon afterapplication of a mechanical suture with the aid of a suturing appliance.Moreover, the known forceps are inconvenient or inapplicable altogetherwhenever there is a deficit of tissues required for the forceps jaws toset on; they are unhandy and traumatizing during manipulations in a deepand narrow operative wound, which is the case, e.g., in proctologyduring manipulations in the small pelvis, in thoracic surgery duringoperations on the esophagus, in children's surgery, and the like.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide such surgicalforceps that would make it possible, due to appropriate shape andarrangement of the construction elements of the compressing surface ofthe effective jaw portion, to considerably enhance maneuvrability of theforceps in the operative wound and extend their service life, rendertheir cleaning more convenient, and provide reliable grasping andholding of tissues and walls of organs.

Said object is accomplished due to the fact that in surgical forceps,composed of two movably interconnected halves, each of said halvesterminating in an oblong jaw having an effective portion with acompressing surface, whereon provision is made for alternatinglyarranged prongs and recesses, which correspond to the respectiverecesses and prongs on the compressing surface of the other jaw,according to the invention, the prongs and recesses are arranged on atleast one longitudinal edge of the compressing jaw surface and therecesses open towards the outer surface of the jaw effective portion.

Such a construction arrangement of the forceps makes it unnecessary toarrange the fixing prongs and the respective through perforations alongthe centre line of the compressing surface of the effective jaw portionwhich is the case with the known forceps, thus reducing considerably(practically twofold or more) the width of the jaw effective portionwhile providing for reliable grasping and holding tissues and walls oforgans of various thicknesses. Smaller width of the jaws and, hence,better maneuvrability of the forceps renders them applicable inhard-of-access places and the cases of a deficit of tissues required forsetting the forceps to the working position, e.g., when compressing andexcising, along the forceps jaws, the resected portion of the pharynxtogether with the larynx, following application of a mechanical sutureto the pharynx with the aid of a suturing appliance during surgery forlaryngeal carcinoma. Provision of the recesses that open towards theouter surface of the jaw effective portion rather than of those made asthrough or blind perforations (which is the case with the knownanalogues) which are in fact dirt accumulators and bad stressconcentrators, makes it possible, other things being equal, to add tothe strength of the jaws and rule out their breakage, to improveconditions of their postoperative cleaning, and cut down forcepsmaintenance time.

It is expedient that a part of the lateral prong surface be essentiallyan extension to the outer surface of the jaw effective portion. Suchintegration of said surfaces facilitates cleaning of the forceps andenables one to dispense with projections on the outer surface of the jaweffective portion, thus rendering possible a convenient and smoothtravel of a scalpel over the effective portion of the jaws fordissecting the tissues held, e.g., between the forceps jaws compressingthe walls of the resected organ portion and the suturing appliance whenapplying a mechanical suture to the organ being resected.

It is desirable that the surface of the recess should make part of thesurface of a body of revolution so that the generatrix of said surfacelocated in an axial section of the recess be inclined with respect tothe outer surface of the jaw effective portion. It is thanks to such anembodiment of the forceps that the maximum strength of the jaw effectiveportion is ensured with a comparatively small width of the jaws, as wellas their cleaning is facilitated, since the recesses have a continuousopen corner-free surface featuring a free and unobstructed success forcleaning on the side of both the compressing and outer surfaces.

It is likewise expedient that, when provision is made for prongs andrecesses along each longitudinal edge of the compressing surface of thejaw effective portion, the prongs and recesses arranged on onelongitudinal edge should be displaced with respect to the prongs andrecesses arranged along the opposite edge of the compressing surface ofthe jaw effective portion. Such a construction arrangement of theeffective portion of the forceps jaws provides for uniform grasping anda more reliable fixation of tissues and walls of organs lengthwise theircompression strip, and is favourable from the standpoint of strength anddurability of the forceps jaws due to a displaced arrangement of therecesses on one longidutinal edge of the compressing surface withrespect to the recesses on the other longitudinal edge. A displacedarrangement of the prongs on one longitudinal edge of the compressingsurface with respect to the prongs on the other longitudinal edgerenders cleaning of the compressing jaw surface more convenient, sincesuch an arrangement provides for an easier access to the base of theprongs for their cleaning and makes dirt accumulation in that regionless probable compared with the case where the prongs on both edges ofthe compressing surface would be arranged opposite to each other.

It is favourable that the effective portion of the jaws be much narrowerthan the remaining part thereof. Such a possibility is ensured due tothe aforementioned construction features of the prongs and recesses ofthe forceps being disclosed and their position with respect to thecompressing and outer surfaces of the jaw effective portion and relativeto one another and in turn makes it possible to considerably reduce thewidth of tissues required for setting the forceps to the tissuecompressing position, as well as renders the forceps more maneuvrable inthe operative wound. Moreover, the aforesaid forceps construction,wherein the effective portion is much narrower than the other portion ofthe instrument makes it possible to use standard-size locking deviceswhich is usually employed in forceps of other types, e.g., standardbox-type locks. This, in turn, makes it possible to unify theconstruction elements of forceps of the various types, which simplifiestheir production.

The jaw effective portion may be made so that its height should increasefrom the end of the effective portion towards the base so that theheight of the jaw effective portion at the base is expedient to exceedthe height of the remaining part of the jaws. Thus, when compressingsolid massive tissues and walls of organs featuring a great compressinglength, this feature provides for high rigidity of the thinned jaweffective portion as for width, as well as reliable grasping and holdingof tissues, while the remaining part of the forceps retains itscompactness, convenience in its application is ensured and acomparatively small weight of the forceps as a whole is provided.

It is expedient that the surface of transition from the narrower jaweffective portion to the remaining part of the jaws be situated closerto the end of the effective portion than the surface of transition fromthe higher jaw effective portion at the base to the remaining part ofthe jaws. This feature makes it possible to provide the requiredrigidity of the forceps jaws with a comparatively small width of the jaweffective portion. In addition, such a mutual arrangement of saidtransition surfaces in relation to the locking element is morereasonable ergonomically.

Whenever a hinge joint is provided between the forceps halves withcurved jaws whose effective portion makes up an angle with the planesquare with the hinge joint axis, it is expedient that the surfaces oftransition from the narrower jaw effective portion higher at the base,to the remaining portion of the jaws be located on the side of the hingejoint. Such a feature makes the forceps more maneuvrable in a narrowoperative wound and adds to the convenience of manipulations with theinstrument when bringing it to the place of compression of tissues andorgans, e.g., in the small pelvis during proctologic surgery oroperations on the esophagus.

The aforementioned construction features of the forceps enable one toextend their functional capabilities and to add to reliability of theirpractical application and to convenience in handling and maintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In what follows the present invention is illustrated by a detaileddescription of some specific though not limiting exemplary embodimentsof its practical implementation to be read with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of surgical forceps, according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side of surgical forceps, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a scaled-up fragmentary view of the jaw effective portion,according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a stereoscopic view of the forceps jaw effective portion,according to the invention, showing prongs and recesses arranged on theside of one longitudinal edge of the jaw compressing surface;

FIG. 5 is a scaled-up fragmentary view of the prongs and recesses on theeffective portion of the jaws of the forceps of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a stereoscopic fragmentary view of the effective portion ofthe forceps jaws, according to the invention, showing prongs andrecesses arranged on the side of both longitudinal edges of the jawcompressing surface;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII--VII in FIG. 3 representingprongs and recesses arranged on the side of one longitudinal edge of thecompressing surface of the jaw effective portion;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line VIII--VIII in FIG. 3 showingprongs and recesses arranged on the side of one longitudinal edge of thecompressing surface of the jaw effective portion;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line IX--IX in FIG. 3 illustratingprongs and recesses arranged on the side of two longitudinal edges ofthe compressing surface of the jaw effective portion;

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line X--X in FIG. 3 demonstratingprongs and recesses arranged on the side of two longitudinal edges ofthe compressing surface of the jaw effective portion;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the outside jaw surface to illustratethe walls of an organ while compressed by the effective portion of theforceps jaws;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line XII--XII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII--XIII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side view of the forceps, according to theinvention;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side view of the forceps, according to theinvention;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary front view of the forceps embodimentillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 17 is a front view of surgical forceps, according to the invention,having curves jaws;

FIG. 18 is a side view of surgical forceps, according to the invention,having curved jaws; and

FIG. 19 is a top view of surgical forceps, according to the invention,having curved jaws.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The surgical forceps disclosed in this invention, are composed of twohalves 1, 2 (FIG. 1) which are movably are interconnected. In a givenspecific embodiment considered hereinafter, such a movable connection iseffected with the aid of a hinge joint 3 which provides a possibility ofa mutual rotary motion of the halves 1 and 2. However, the halves 1, 2of the forceps disclosed herein may be interlinked also with the aid ofguides (not shown in the Drawing) which ensure parallel mutual travel ofthe halves. Each of the halves 1, 2 terminates in an oblong jaw 4 or 5,respectively and has a respective handle 6 or 7. Each of the jaws 4, 5consists of an effective portion 8 and a remaining part 9 locatedbetween the effective portion 8 and the hinge joint 3. In theconstruction of the forceps represented in the Drawing the handles 6, 7have ring-shaped grips 10 and are interlinked through a rack lock 11,while the halves 1, 2 are interconnected with the aid of a box lock 12(FIG. 2). Ends 13 14 (FIG. 1) of the effective portion of the jaws 4, 5of the forceps may have a projection 15 (FIG. 3) on one of the jaws,e.g., on the jaw 4, said projection being adapted to engage a recess 16provided in the other jaw, e.g. in the jaw 5, both said projection andsaid recess serving to fix the jaws 4, 5 against mutual crosswisedisplacements.

The jaws 4, 5 (FIG. 1) have on their effective portion 8 compressingsurfaces 17, 18 (FIG. 4) and outer surfaces 19, 20. The compressingsurfaces 17, 18 of the effective portion of each jaw carry alternatingprongs 21 and recesses 22. The prongs 21 stand over the compressingsurfaces 17, 18 and their points face the opposite jaw. The jaws 22 areinterposed between the prongs 21 so that the prongs 21 of the jaw 4 aresituated opposite to the recesses 22 of the jaw 5, and vice versa, theprongs 21 of the jaw 5 are located against the recesses 22 of the jaw 4.The prongs 21 and the recesses 22 may be arranged on one longitudinaledge of the compressing surfaces 17, 18 of the jaw effective portion,e.g., on the side of the outer surface 19 (FIGS. 4, 5). However, theprongs 21 and the recesses 22 may be arranged also on both longitudinaledges of the compressing surface, e.g., the surface 18 (FIG. 18) on theside of both outer surfaces 19, 20. The recesses 22 are open towards theouter surface 19 or 20 of the effective portion 8 of the jaws, e.g., thejaw 5. With the effective portions of the jaws 4 and 5 (FIGS. 3, 7 to10) of the forceps brought together completely, the prongs 21 engage therecesses 22.

The aforediscussed specific construction features of the forcepspresented herein make it possible to make the jaw effective portion verynarrow (practically half as wide as in the known forceps) and at thetime ensure reliable grasping and fixing of walls 23, 24 (FIG. 11) ofthe organ being operated upon. Regardless the thickness of the walls(23, 24), when the latter are compressed between the jaws 4, 5 of theforceps the pointed prongs 21 stick into both of the walls 23, 24 so asto prevent said walls from escaping as a result of considerabletensioning of the tissues occurring in the direction facing an arrow 25(FIGS. 12, 13). Reliable fixing of the tissues is provided even in thecase where the compressed walls 23, 24 of the organ involved have beenexcised at the jaws (a tissue section 26) on the side of the outersurface 20 opposite to the prongs 21 and the recesses 22 arrangedunilaterally on the side of the outer surface 19. Thanks to theaforesaid feature the forceps are efficacious when used in conjunctionwith suturing appliances for closing the cavity and fixing the resectedportion of the organs, which is out off the remaining portion after amechanical suture has been applied thereto. In the case of a bilateralarrangement of the prongs 21 and the recesses 22 (FIGS. 5, 9 10) theposition of the tissue section 26 with respect to either of the outersurfaces 19 and 20 of the effective portion 8 is of no importance forensuring reliable grasping and holding of the organ's walls. The narroweffective portion 8 (FIG. 2) of the jaws 4, 5 (FIG. 3) of the forcepsenables one to attain good maneuvrability of the instrument in theoperative wound. The recesses 22 (FIGS. 4, 5) that are open laterallyand on the side of the compressing surface of the jaws, are convenientfor cleaning the forceps, since they do catch blood clots and dirt andare easy to wash.

A portion 21' (FIGS. 5, 6) of the lateral surface of the prongs 21 is infact an extension to the outer surface 19 (or 20 in cases of a bilateralarrangement of the prongs as shown in FIG. 5) of the effective portion 8(FIG. 1) of the jaws 4, 5. In a given specific embodiment of the forcepsthe prongs 21 (FIGS. 5, 6) are shaped as a pointed-vertex pyramid. Theprongs 21 may, however, be shaped as a cone (not shown in the Drawing)dissected by a plane parallel to the cone axis. A surface 22' of therecess 22 is in fact a part of the surface of a body of revolution, agenerant 27 (FIGS. 7 through 10) of said surface located in an axialsection of the recess 22, being in an inclined position to the outersurface 19 or 20 of the jaw effective portion. The aforesaid featuremakes it possible, with a relatively narrow width of the effectiveportion 8 (FIGS. 1, 2) of the forceps jaws 4, 5, to enhance the strengththereof, reduce the concentration of stresses nearby the recesses 22(FIGS. 5, 6) when compressing the tissues and walls of organs, andprovide better forceps cleaning conditions. The cross-section of therecess 22 is shaped as an arc 28. The prongs 21 and the recesses 22 areexpedient to be spaced equidistantly along the jaw effective portion,while the recesses 22 are to be spaced half-pitch apart from theadjacent prongs 21.

According to an embodiment of the forceps having the prongs (FIG . 6)and the recesses 22 arranged along each of the edges of the compressingsurface 18 of the jaw effective portion 8, said prongs 21 and recesses22 on one edge located on the side of the outer surface 19, aredisplaced with respect to the prongs 21 and the recesses 22 located onthe side of the outer surface 20. The amount of displacement of the likeelements arranged along the both edges of the compressing surface of thejaw effective portion 8 is expedient to be equal to one half of thepitch, i.e., so that the prongs 21 and the recesses 22 should bepositioned staggerwise. Such a construction arrangement of the effectiveportion 8 (FIG. 1) of the jaws 4, 5 adds to reliability of grasping theorgan's walls due to closer location of pricks made by the prongs 21(FIG. 6) are arranged not linearly but over an area limited to the widthof the effective portion 8 of the forceps jaws (e.g., the jaw 5).Displacement of the prongs 21 on one edge of the compressing surface 18of the effective portion 8 of the jaw 5 with respect to the prongs 21 onthe other edge exposes the compressing surface 18 of the jaw 5 at thebase of the prongs 21, which is more favourable from the standpoint ofcleaning the forceps compared with the case where the prongs arearranged in opposition to one another. The corresponding longitudinaldisplacement of the recesses in their rows in more beneficial from theviewpoint of strength and rigidity of the effective portion 8 of the jaw5 (or 4) which is important in view of inconsiderable width of the jaws.

The effective portion 8 (FIGS. 2, 14, 15) of the forceps jaws 4, 5 ismuch narrower than the remaining portion 9 thereof. The outer surfaces19, 20 of the effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 are parallel to eachother, whereas surfaces 29, 30 (FIGS. 1, 16) opposite to the compressingsurfaces 17, 18 are so inclined that the height of the effective portion8 of the jaws 4, 5 increases from the ends 13, 14 towards base 31, 32 ofthe effective portion which correspond approximately to the position ofthe last (from the ends) prong 21 or recess 22. The whole complex of theconstruction features considered hereinabove provides for equalconditions for compression, grasping and fixation of tissues and wallsof organs by the prongs 21 along the entire length of the effectiveportion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 which features a comparatively small widthand therefore requires but a relatively narrow area of tissues forsetting the effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5. Besides, the requiredrigidity of the oblong remaining portion 9 of the jaws is ensured, aswell as a possibility of employing the lock 12 and the rest of theforceps elements (i.e., the handles 6, 7, the rack lock 11, and otherconstruction elements) unified and standardized as for shape and sizefor the various types of forceps featuring various dimensions of the jaweffective portion.

In order to attain the required rigidity of the effective portion 8(FIGS. 15, 16) of the jaws 4, 5 featuring comparatively long length andaimed at compressing very dense and compact tissues and walls ofrelatively great length (e.g., when compressing and closing the cavityof the resected portion of the stomach after its stitching up with amechanical suture applied with the aid of a suturing appliance, thelength of said resected portion along the line of suture amounting to100 mm and over), the height of the effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5at the base 31, 32 (FIG. 16) exceeds that of the remaining portion 9. Itis due to such a construction that, with the width of the effectiveportion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 less than the width of the remaining portion9, the rest of the forceps elements remain compact, convenience inforceps application and a relatively low weight of the instrument as awhole are provided, as well as a possibility of unification andstandardization of the forceps construction elements. A surface 33 (FIG.15) of transition from the narrower effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5to the remaining portion 9 is in this case located closer to the end 13,14 of the effective portion 8 than a surface 34 (FIG. 16) of transitionfrom the higher effective portion 8 at the base 31, 32 to the remainingportion 9 of the jaws 4, 5. The surfaces 33, 34 of transition arecylindrical-shaped in a given exemplary embodiment of the forceps.

The surgical forceps, according to the present invention, may haveeither straight or curved jaws.

According to one of the embodiments of the forceps featuring theirhalves 1, 2 (FIG. 1) interconnected through a hinge joint, the jaws 4, 5are curved. The effective portion 8 (FIG. 18) of the jaws makes up anangle of, e.g., 90 degrees with a plane square with the axis of thehinge joint 3. The outer surface 20 of the effective portion 8 of theforceps jaws which is located on the outside of the hinge joint 3, has along-sweep transit 35 at the bending point facing the remaining portion9 of the jaws 4, 5, whereas a cylindrical surface 36 of transition fromthe narrower effective portion 8 to the remaining portion 9 with aprojection 37 is located on the inner side. Respective surfaces 36 and38 of transition from the narrower and the higher (at the base)effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 to the remaining portion 9 aresituated on the side of the hinge joint 3. Such a constructionarrangement of the forceps having curved jaws (free from angulatedprojections imparts the effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 compact,makes it more maneuvrable in a narrow operative wound renders the jawsadequately rigid. To compensate for elastic deformation of thecantilivered jaws 4, 5 (FIG. 19) of the forceps and to provide a uniformcompression of tissues as for the length of the effective portion 8 ofthe jaws 4, 5 the latter are so made that, with the forceps in theinitial position, i.e., when teeth 39 (FIG. 17) of the rack lock 11 ofthe forceps are engaged each other, the ends 13, 14 (FIG. 19) of theeffective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 get in contact with each other,while at the base 31, 32 the jaws are space somewhat apart from eachother. In the course of compression of tissues and walls of organs theangle of taper between the jaws 4, 5 decreases to zero.

The aforementioned FIGS. 1 through 9 illustrate various embodiments ofthe forceps disclosed in the invention, wherein both of the jaws 4, 5(FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 11, 16) comprise the effective portion 8 having theprongs 21 and the recesses 22. It is, however, obvious that the forceps,according to the present invention, may be so embodied that the prongs21 be provided on one of the jaws only, e.g., on the jaw 4, while therespective recesses 22 may be provided only on the opposite jaw, e.g.,on the jaw 5 (not shown in the Drawing). Besides, the effective portion8 with the prongs 21 and the recesses 22 may be made not only straightbut also curved, e.g., along an arc.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the surgical forceps asdiscussed in the disclosure hereinabove and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings should by no means be regarded as covering allpracticable embodiments of the invention that could be found reasonablein surgical practice nowadays.

The herein-proposed surgical forceps operates as follows.

The tissues or walls 23, 24 (FIGS. 11 through 13) of the organ operatedupon are compressed either atraumatically if said tissues or organ'swalls are to be retained after surgery, or roughly taking no care ofpossible traumatic lesion of the tissues involved when the forceps isapplied to the resected portion of the organ operated upon. Irrespectiveof the thickness of the organ's walls 23, 24 being compressed the prongs21 (FIG. 11) of the effective portion 9 of the jaws 4, 5 stick into thewalls 23, 24, thus fixing them reliably against slipping out of thespace confined between the compressing surfaces 17, 18 (FIG.11) of theforceps jaws 4, 5.

When using for grasping and fixing tissues or the walls 23, 24 of anorgan a forceps having a single row of the prongs 21 (FIGS.4, 5) and therecesses 22 arranged on the side of one of the outer surfaces, e.g., thesurface 19, of the effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5, and the surgeryinvolves excision of tissues along the forceps jaws, the forceps shouldbe so positioned that the surface of the section 26 (FIGS. 12, 13) to beperformed be located on the side opposite to the outer surface 19 of theeffective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5 corresponding to the prongs 21 andthe recesses 22.

When using for grasping and fixing tissues or the walls 23, 24 of organsa forceps having two rows of the prongs 21 (FIG. 6) and the recesses 22arranged on each side of the outer surface 19, 20 of the effectiveportion 8 of the forceps jaws 4, 5, and necessity arises in the courseof surgery for excision of tissues along the forceps jaws the positionof the latter with respect to the surface of the section (26) does notmatter.

When using the present forceps in combination with a suturing appliancefor compressing and fixing the resected portion of an organ, applicationof a mechanical suture (e.g., to the stomach in the case ofgastrectomy), the resected portion of the organ is encompassed by theforceps jaws (not shown in the Drawings), the jaws are brought tocontact with the branches of the suturing appliance, and the organ wallsare compressed on the side of its resected portion. The small width ofthe effective portion 8 (FIGS. 2, 14, 15, 18) of the jaws 4, 5 providesfor good maneuvrability of the present forceps during manipulationstherewith and its convenient approach to the place of application of amechanical suture. The prongs 21 (FIGS. 12, 13) and the recesses 22 ofthe forceps and located on the side opposite to the suturing appliance.Next the tissues are dissected, using a scalpel, between the forcepsjaws 4, 5 and the suturing appliances. Then the staple magazine and thedie of the suturing appliance are brought apart, thus releasing theorgan stitched up with a mechanical suture. The forceps jaws 4, 5 closereliably the cavity of the resected portion of the organ, since thewalls 23, 24 of the organ have been reliably grasped by the prongs 21 ofthe effective portion 8 and fixed against slipping out despite acomparatively small width of the effective portion 8 of the jaws 4, 5.

Industrial Applicability

Thus, the construction features of the surgical forceps, according tothe invention, provide for the combination of good maneuvrability of theforceps under diverse conditions of its application in the course ofsurgery, and high-reliability grasping and fixing tissues and organwalls, strength of the jaws, service durability of the forceps as awhole, and convenience in handling and maintenance. These advantagesmake it possible to successfully use the forceps of the presentinvention (e.g., that with curved jaws) when manipulating deeply in anarrow operative wound, e.g., during surgery on the esophagus or inproctology, when reliable closure of the infected cavity of the rectalor colonic end is required, under conditions of a hindered access, afterexcision of the resected organ portion along the forceps jaws followedby holding the intestinal end with the closed cavity thereof duringsubsequent manipulations involved in, e.g., surgery for establishingcoloproctostomy. The aforesaid advantages make the forceps applicablealso in the cases where there is a deficit of tissue required forsetting the forceps jaws at the place of grasping and fixing tissues.The advantages of the proposed forceps make also successfully applicableits various embodiments in conjunction with sutturing appliances forcompressing the resected organ portion after application of a mechanicalsuture.

All these advantages enable one to improve the quality of surgery tosimplify surgeon's work and that of attending personnel, extends thefinctional capabilities of the forceps of the present type in diversebranches of surgery.

What is claimed is:
 1. Surgical forceps comprisingtwo movablyinterconnected halves, each of said halves terminating in an oblong jawhaving an effective portion with a compressing surface, alternatelyarranged prongs and recesses aligned along at least one edge of saidcompressing surface of one jaw corresponding to respective recesses andprongs aligned along at least one edge on the compressing surface of theother jaw, said prongs and recesses being arranged on at least onelongitudinal edge of the compressing surface with said recesses opentowards a lateral side surface of the effective portion of the jaw. 2.Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of a lateralsurface of said prong is an extension of the lateral side surface of theeffective portion of said jaw.
 3. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim1, wherein a surface of said recess forms part of a surface of a body ofrevolution, a generant of said surface of the body of revolution islocated in an axial section of said recess and is inclined with respectto the lateral side surface of the jaw effective portion.
 4. Surgicalforceps as claimed in claim 1, wherein with said prongs and saidrecesses arranged along each longitudinal edge of said compressingsurface of the effective portion of the jaw, the prongs and recessesarranged on one longitudinal edge are displaced with respect to theprongs and recesses arranged on the opposite edge of the compressingsurface of the effective portion of the jaw.
 5. Surgical forceps asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the effective portion of saidjaws is much smaller than the width of the remaining part of the jaws.6. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 5, wherein the height of theeffective portion of said jaws rises from the end of said effectiveportion towards a base so that the height of the effective portion ofthe jaws at the base exceeds the height of the remaining part of thejaws.
 7. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 5, wherein the surface oftransition from the narrower effective portion of said jaws to theremaining part of the jaws is situated closer to the end of saideffective portion than the surface of transition from the highereffective portion of said jaws at a base to the remaining part of thejaws.
 8. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 7, wherein with said twohalves having curved jaws interconnected through a hinge joint, saidcurved jaws having their effective portion arranged at an angle to theplane square with the axis of the hinge joint the surfaces of transitionand from the narrower effective portion of said jaws, which is higher ata to the remaining portion of said jaws, are situated on the side of thehinge joint.
 9. Surgical forceps comprisingtwo movably interconnectedhalves, each of said halves terminating in an oblong jaw having aneffective portion with two lateral outer surfaces and a compressingsurface, alternatingly arranged prongs and recesses corresponding torespective recesses and prongs on the compressing surface of the otherjaw, said prongs and said recesses being arranged on at least onelongitudinal edge of the compressing jaw surface with said recessesopening towards the respective lateral outer surface adjoining the edgeof said compressing surface having said alternating prongs and recesses.10. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 9, wherein a lateral surface ofsaid prongs is an extension of a corresponding lateral outer surface ofthe effective portion of said jaw.
 11. Surgical forceps as claimed inclaim 9, wherein said recess includes a surface of a body of revolution,the generant of said surface is located in an axial section of saidrecess and is inclined with respect to an outer surface of the effectiveportion.
 12. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 9, wherein the prongsand recesses arranged on one longitudinal edge of the compressingsurface are offset with respect to the prongs and recesses arranged onthe opposite longitudinal edge of the compressing surface of the jaweffective portion.
 13. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe effective portion of said jaws is narrower than the remaining partof the jaws.
 14. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 13, wherein aheight of the effective portion of said jaws rises from an end of saideffective portion towards a base of said effective portion so that aheight of the effective portion at the base exceeds the height of theremaining part of the jaws.
 15. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 13,wherein a surface of transition from the narrower effective portion ofsaid jaws to the remaining part of the jaws is situated closer to theend of said effective portion than the surface of transition from thehigher effective portion of said jaws at the base to the remaining partof the jaws.
 16. Surgical forceps as claimed in claim 15, wherein saidtwo halves include curved jaws interconnected through a hinge joint,said curved jaws having their effective portion arranged at an angle toa plane which is square with a hinge joint axis, the surfaces oftransition from the narrower effective portion of said jaws which ishigher at the base, to the remaining portion of said jaws, are situatedon a side of the hinge joint.